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Hosts Peg McDermott and Heather Hagaman discuss experiencing death in sobriety, contrasting sudden losses with expected deaths and how both can dysregulate the body and trigger fear. 

Heather shares the shock of a close friend dying soon after retirement and how she leaned on support, service, and self-care even when attending a celebration of life at a bar. 

Peg recounts losing her mother early in sobriety, restarting smoking but not drinking, and relying on sober community, therapy, and a parent-loss grief group; she also describes being present and making clear decisions during funerals and end-of-life care for both parents. 

They address relapse statistics, the fatal risks of relapse, suicide in recovery, and the need to reach out, watch isolation, plan for milestones, feel feelings, and seek professional help when needed, emphasizing that no one has to grieve alone.

00:00 Welcome and Topic

02:15 Sudden Loss Story

05:12 Peg on Losing Mom

09:07 Support and Closure

13:01 Relapse and Suicide Risk

16:44 Grief and Nervous System

21:17 Hidden Trauma Unpacked

25:14 Milestones and Planning

29:56 Relationship Grief Too

31:00 Final Takeaways and Goodbye